Professional Summary
Ryan Alexander Gaertner is the Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer of DubClub, a Chicago-based technology platform designed to serve the sports betting community by connecting amateur sports bettors with professional "cappers"—experts who provide researched picks and betting advice. DubClub facilitates consumption, discussion, and transactions around premium sports betting content, enabling its users to improve their betting outcomes. The company notably processed over 10 million transactions since its inception and recently secured $7.5 million in Series A funding, led by Renegade Ventures as of September 2024, underscoring its growth and market traction within the sports betting and creator economy sectors.
Educational Background
Ryan Gaertner holds a Bachelor of Arts in Public Policy Analysis with emphases in Economics and Finance from Stanford University. In addition, he attended the Stanford Graduate School of Business. His academic tenure was distinguished by participation as a varsity athlete, playing as a defensive back for the Stanford Cardinal football team over four years and contributing to the 2016 Rose Bowl championship-winning team where he wore jersey number 19. His Stanford background integrates competitive athletics and analytic rigor, which is reflected in his entrepreneurial endeavors.
Career and Leadership
Ryan has been serving as CEO and Head of Product at DubClub since July 2021, spearheading product innovation and strategic growth initiatives focused on building a premium sports betting community platform. His leadership reflects strong product vision combined with an active engagement in community-building, including managing communication channels such as Discord to facilitate user and creator interactions. DubClub’s model empowers individual sports betting creators to monetize their expertise, creating a direct channel between professional bet advisors and bettors.
In his prior activities, Ryan has been deeply involved in sports-related analytics and daily fantasy sports (DFS) lineups, highlighting a personal history rooted in sports data analysis and user engagement with competitive sports content. He also appears as a public voice in the betting community, participating in podcasts, social media dialogues, and thought leadership content promoting the mission to help bettors "Win More Together™," a tagline emblematic of his customer-centric vision.
Key Achievements and Industry Impact
- Led DubClub to achieve a major milestone of 10 million transactions processed, signaling robust platform activity and user retention.
- Raised $7.5 million in Series A funding to accelerate product development and market expansion within the lucrative sports wagering and creator economy.
- Positioned DubClub as a unique intermediary platform addressing the structural disadvantage faced by amateur bettors against sportsbooks by providing vetted professional betting insights.
- Built and maintains an engaged user community through exclusive updates, creator showcases, and interactive sessions under his leadership.
- Recognized publicly as a former NCAA football athlete turned entrepreneur, leveraging his sports pedigree to gain credibility in the sports betting ecosystem.
Public and Social Media Presence
- LinkedIn: [linkedin.com/in/ryan-gaertner](https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryan-gaertner) — Professional profile highlighting his education, role at DubClub, and leadership philosophy.
- X (formerly Twitter): [@Ryan_Gaertner](https://x.com/ryan_gaertner) — Active in providing real-time DubClub updates, community engagement, and thought leadership in sports betting and creator monetization.
- Instagram: [@ryangaertner](https://www.instagram.com/ryangaertner) — Visual and branded content reflecting his leadership and personal brand aligning with DubClub’s mission.
- Frequently featured in industry discussions on platforms like TechCrunch, FinSMEs, and founder-focused podcasts, underscoring both his influence and the relevance of DubClub within the sports betting and digital content economies.
Personal Background (Relevant to Professional Profile)
- Born in Greenwich, Connecticut.
- Comes from a family engaged in football; an older brother also played football at Stanford.
- His athletic background and academic achievements at Stanford cultivate a foundation of discipline, teamwork, and quantitative analysis directly applicable to his leadership at DubClub.
Ryan Gaertner’s profile presents a compelling blend of elite athletic experience, top-tier education, and entrepreneurial success in a growing niche of the sports and betting industry, supported by significant venture capital funding and a scalable technology platform. His direct involvement in product development and customer engagement strategies positions DubClub as a disruptive player in the creator economy focused on sports wagering content.